Thank you for your suggestions on England's XI to face Brazil, and for all the comments on the controversial kit. Sorry if we did not publish one you sent - we were absolutely swamped with responses on both subjects.

England, of course, play on Saturday against Brazil at Wembley. Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate will face the media this evening where doubtless he will be asked by journalists about the kit.

You will be able to watch a live stream of Southgate's news conference on the BBC Sport website.from approximately 19:15 GMT.

We will also have live coverage of the Netherlands v Scotland and Romania v Northern Ireland friendly matches - both kick-off at 19:45 - as well.

In the meantime, here's some further reading which will be of interest to you:

• Poland will see Wales as 'big threat', says Brooks
• Sunak says 'don't mess' with flag on England football kit
• Elliott scores twice in big England U21s win
• 'Spain have responsibility to repair nation's image'
• Brazil enter new era after 'lost year' and 'one of greatest humiliations'

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Now then if you fancy a little preview of Scotland's friendly against the Netherlands in Amsterdam we've got you covered.

James McFadden, Tom English and Liam McLeod look forward to this evening's action and Ronald de Boer fills us in on how the Dutch team are looking. We also hear from Steve Clarke and Billy Gilmour.

Just have a listen to the Scottish Football Podcast.

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer on Sportsound

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Steve Clarke has been "irked" by Scotland's winless run and Amsterdam would be a hell of a place to end the streak.

With the Euros drawing closer the feeling now is that something has changed. Something has flipped for the big game here. Everything is focused on Germany and that battle for the last few places - if there are a last few places in the squad.

The intensity must have ratcheted upwards. We've given great praise to the Scotland team - rightly so - but I know that Steve Clarke is irked by the fact that they haven’t won in five and they need to arrest that decline. I know it annoys him.

At least three of the five [Scotland are winless against] are just top class teams but he's not making an allowance for that.

They'll want to get back into winning ways and get the feelgood [factor] back into the squad.

Northern Ireland

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Michael O'Neill enjoyed a successful first stint as Northern Ireland boss guiding them to the Euros in 2016.

But it has not all been plain sailing since he returned to the role in December 2022. After losing senior player after senior player in an injury-hit Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, he has had little choice but to "accelerate" younger players into his set-up.

And while it has led to short-term pain - the opportunity to qualify for the Euros from a group lacking any of Europe's heavyweights was missed - O'Neill's objectives have switched and his focus is now very much on the future.

With 2026 World Cup qualifying looming after the Nations League begins in September, the former Stoke City boss is hopeful that friendlies away to Romania and Scotland are the next step on the journey for his team.

"This is about building a team from a very young player base," O'Neill said.

"It is about keeping the older players we have engaged and making them feel valuable, which they are, and hopefully see these younger players adapt to international football and accelerate quite quickly. We are asking a lot at times.

"We're positive about what lies ahead but it is quite difficult to accelerate the process, it is about building the experience and hopefully each experience is another positive for them."

You'll be able to follow Northern Ireland's match in Bucharest on Friday evening live on the BBC Sport website and listen to it on BBC Sounds and Radio Ulster.

BBC Sounds

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After British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS group were confirmed as new minority investors in Manchester United - a deal which saw them take control of United's football operations - will this new era return the club back to their perch at the top of English football?

BBC Sport's chief football news reporter, Simon Stone; Carl Anka who covers Manchester United for The Athletic; and United fan Beth Tucker, presenter of The United Stand, join Sportsworld’s Lee James to discuss what can be expected from their involvement at Manchester United.

We'll also hear at length from Sir Jim Ratcliffe himself, who spoke to BBC sports editor Dan Roan after the deal was completed.

Listen to the full Sportsworld podcast on BBC Sounds here...

Image source, Getty Images

Now according to the Daily Mirror, external, Manchester United are targeting Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, 23, as a replacement for his 32-year-old compatriot and Brazil international Casemiro.

As Wolves bought him for around £15m last year, I'm guessing that'll mean Man Utd are being quoted £40-50m!

We can't keep up with all the United transfer stories, the last we read they were after Benfica and Portugal midfielder Joao Neves, 19.

Read the rest of today's gossip column here...

With no Premier League or Championship fixtures there is a chance to get out there to tick off a new ground and see a new team this weekend.

It's Non-League Day on Saturday.

West Ham's Michail Antonio, who began his career at Tooting & Mitcham United, has spoken of his love of the game outside the top four divisions, and how it helped shape his own career.

Image source, Truro City FC

Everyone has surely heard the term fixture pile up but this is frankly ridiculous.

National League South side Truro City still have to play 13 games - almost a quarter of their season - in 28 days.

"We're Saturday, Tuesday, Friday, Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday - oh, and we have to fit into there somewhere the abandoned Eastbourne game from Tuesday night."

Truro City boss Paul Wotton and his players have not got it easy have they?

They currently find themselves 19th out of 24 teams, three points above the relegation zone but with at least five games in hand on the sides in the bottom four.

And by the sounds of it they really have had some bad luck with getting games on this season.

Read more

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Everton have had a stranglehold on the Merseyside derby in the Women's Super League - but has the time finally come for Liverpool to turn the tables?

The two fierce rivals go head-to-head this Sunday at Goodison Park with Liverpool having picked up twice as many points as Everton this season.

Matt Beard's side sit fifth in the table, four places above the Blues, who have caused them headaches recently with three successive wins at Anfield - including a 1-0 victory in October.

Liverpool have triumphed just once in their past seven WSL meetings but Everton have had to battle through an injury-hit campaign, which has been compounded by the contrasting success enjoyed by their neighbours in red.

Everton therefore, find themselves underdogs going into Sunday's match, but captain Megan Finnigan believes her side can cause another upset.

"Form goes out of the window," she told BBC Sport. "The last few times we've played, they've come into it in good form and we've been in bad form - and it's always worked out well for us."

Read the full story here...

England

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England's Under-21s thrashed Azerbaijan in Baku in their European Championship qualifier to move level on points with Group F leaders Ukaine.

Goals from Harvey Elliott and Noni Madueke gave Lee Carsley's side a 2-0 lead at the break.

And Jaden Philogene, Elliott and Archie Gray also struck in the second half for the visitors with Ramin Nasirli replying for the hosts.

A reminder to please put your name and where you are from on texts and WhatsApp messages.

And we've not even got to Everton or Manchester City yet...

Everton had an initial 10-point deduction for breaching profitability and sustainability rules reduced down to six following an appeal, but are now waiting the result of a hearing into a second charge.

Meanwhile, Manchester City were also referred to an independent commission in February 2023 after more than 100 alleged rule breaches.

Although the date for that case to be heard has not yet been publicly revealed.

Oh and rumours abound that Chelsea might need to flog up to £100m of talent this summer if they are to avoid Premier League PSR charges.

Leicester are far from alone. Earlier this week another East Midlands club Nottingham Forest were docked four points for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules.

An independent commission found Forest's losses to 2022-23 breached the threshold of £61m by £34.5m.

The sanction saw them drop below Luton Town into the Premier League's relegation zone.

Forest said they were "extremely disappointed" with the decision, which they say "raises issues of concern for all aspirant clubs".

According to a piece in the Daily Telegraph, external, Forest, who are considering an appeal need to raise around £30m in profit before July to ensure they avoid future sanctions, with the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White, Murillo and Orel Mangala being spoken of as potential departures.

You can read all about Forest's situation here.

Image source, Getty Images

Away from international football for a moment.

A reminder that Leicester City were last night charged by the Premier League with allegedly breaking spending rules during their last three seasons in the top flight.

Leicester have been referred to an independent commission for breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and failing to submit audited finances.

If found guilty the Championship high-flyers could face a points deduction.

The Foxes are also subject to a separate financial probe by the English Football League (EFL).

Leicester, who were relegated at the end of last season, said they were "surprised" and "disappointed" by the timing of the Premier League's actions, when the club is not in the top flight.

The club added they would "defend" themselves "from any unlawful acts by the football authorities, should they seek to exercise jurisdiction where they cannot do so".

Read the full story here...

Image source, Getty Images

Another story from the Far East...

China captain Zhang Linpeng has quit international football after what he called the "disgrace" of a 2-2 draw at Singapore in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.

China's hopes of reaching the World Cup for only the second time are in the balance after they let a 2-0 half-time lead slip on Thursday.

Zhang, 34, who is known by the nickname 'Zhangmos' for his tattoos similar playing style to Spanish defender Sergio Ramos said: "After careful reflection, I believe it's time to bring my national career to a close.

"We can't even manage to beat Singapore at this point. Personally I find it unbearable. It's a disgrace."

Image source, Getty Images

North Korea's home World Cup qualifier against Japan scheduled for Tuesday will be switched from Pyongyang to a neutral venue the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has confirmed.

The teams met in the first game of the scheduled double header on Thursday with Japan winning 1-0 in Tokyo.

Japanese news agency Kyodo reported that North Korea had decided not to stage the match in their capital city over worries about infectious diseases in Japan,

Japan's football association chief Kozo Tashima also said he had been asked if the game could be played in his country during half-time of Thursday's encounter.

In a statement the AFC said the decision to switch the match was "due to unavoidable circumstances."

North Korea, who are also due to play Syria and Myanmar at home in June has not hosted a men's international in Pyongyang since 2019 during the qualifying competition for the 2022 World Cup.

The country pulled out of that competition citing health concerns related to the Covid pandemic.

In February, an Olympic qualifier between the women's teams of the two countries scheduled for Pyongyang was switched at the last minute to a neutral venue in Saudi Arabia.